Five questions with four MotoGP racers

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As the motorcycle world championship races gear up for the second half of the 2013 season in Indianapolis, USA TODAY checks in with four racers.

Rookie Marc Marquez of Spain is leading the championship series on a Repsol Honda. He is chasing a sweep Sunday of the three U.S. circuits, having won at Austin, Texas, and Laguna Seca in California. Marquez, 20, won in Indianapolis twice when he was racing in Moto2 and will be starting in pole position Sunday. "It is one of the tracks that I always ride quiet well, so I hope to do the same way with MotoGP bike," he said at a recent press conference.

What goes through your head when you are racing?

Marquez: I'm trying to be completely focused on the race and think about it, that's it!

Do you go by any nicknames?

Marquez: Not yet! Maybe in the future.

What two apps do you use most?

Marquez: I use a smartphone and the 2 apps are Facebook and Twitter..

What is your proudest moment?

Marquez : If we're talking about racing then probably my first (MotoGP) win in Austin!

I can't leave home without …

Marquez: Visiting my grandparents first... hah.

Marquez's teammate, Dani Pedrosa, is No. 2 in standings. The fellow Spaniard has been recovering from a fractured collarbone. "The healing process is getting better. And we could see in the last days some signs of some recovery in the bones," said Pedrosa, 27, at a news conference.

Dani Pedrosa(Photo: USA TODAY)

What goes through your head when you are racing?

Pedrosa: If you are very focused you really don't think. It's all on going. You watch and react to the feeling you have on track with the bike while things happen around you. It's an automatic reaction. Desire of what you want to do. Get info of the current moment and react to it.

Jorge Lorenzo,26, is the defending MotoGP champion and is currently third in standings, despite recovering from a twice broken collarbone. His second injury came a month ago. "It's still not perfect" because you need two months for the bone to heal, the Spaniard and Yamaha Factory rider said, "but as far as power and endurance, I'm quite good. I'm not perfect, but I'm enough good to race."

Jorge Lorenzo(Photo: USA TODAY)

Three most-listened to songs or bands on your music device?

Lorenzo: Some Linkin Park, some from Red Hot Chili Peppers and the other one, probably Guns N Roses. Normally rock and pop.

Do you have any nicknames? If so what is your favorite?

Lorenzo: Hammer and butter. Hammer is the constant pace (that I ride), like a hammer, and the butter is smooth, when you have butter on the knife and you put it on the bread, it's smooth. I ride like that.

What are your favorite apps?

Lorenzo: Normally social network, like Twitter and Facebook, WhatsApp.

What is your proudest moment?

Lorenzo: My proudest moment? Probably the first title in the 250cc (in 2006) and the first title in MotoGP (2010), in professional terms.

You can't leave home without..

Lorenzo: Without one book, mobile phone and one scarf. A big one, because I'm weak in my throat.

American Nicky Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., is the 2006 MotoGP World Champion. Hayden, 32, considers Indy his home track. He is ninth in standings and is riding with Ducati Team.

Nicky Hayden(Photo: USA TODAY)

What goes through your head (what are you thinking) when you are racing?

Hayden: This might sound crazy coming from a guy who does 200+ mph on the track, but you really want to be thinking as little as possible because that means things are just clicking, your bike's working good, and you're just reacting. A lot of the stuff we do on the track needs to be natural. If you've got to think about it—something happens, then you think about it, then you do it—chances are you're going too slow. You need to be one step ahead of everything and just let the natural instincts work, probably the same way someone who hits a baseball just does it. Of course you need to be focused and hit your marks, but you don't want to think too much.

What two apps do you use most?

Hayden: I love music and I listen to Pandora a lot when I'm in the gym or working out. I also listen to ESPN Radio. I never sit down and watch TV in the morning, but sometimes I like to hear what happened the night before, especially during basketball season.

What is your proudest moment?

Hayden: Valencia 2006 (when Hayden won the MotoGP title). It was also a special moment for the way I did it — last race, not knowing it was done until the last lap. I've had a couple pretty dry years here, but I'm very proud of that one and I'm not letting go of it. It was more than just a one-year achievement; it was something I worked most of my life toward. If I could express how much that one means to me, you still wouldn't understand; you'd think I was exaggerating.

Is there a snack you must have at the track?

Hayden: If I have to snack, I'll eat peanuts. My dad's nickname is "Squirrel," and it's kind of funny because we all like nuts in our family.

I can't leave home without …

Hayden: My phone. I don't really like to admit that, because I hate guys who can't do nothing without their phone. I don't want to be that guy, but I use my phone a lot. Also, as much as I travel, I'd better keep my passport on me.